Seal Release Achill 18/05/08

Smokey Bear

Just to let you know,
Laurence, a 6 month old grey seal, will be released back into the wild by the Irish Seal Sanctuary, with the help of local residents and Coastguards, at Keem Strand, Achill Island on the 18th May at 1430.
Laurence was rescued by local residents on the 28th March 2008 and taken by the local Coastguard to Castlebar Animal Hospital. After examination and overnight rest he was then transported by Ray Hughes to the train station, he arrived in Dublin, to be rehabilitated at the Sanctuary.
Following the release there will be a talk/workshop by the Irish Seal Sanctuary on what to do if you come across a seal, what actions to be taken and information that we need in order to evaluate the situation.
The Irish Seal Sanctuary is a registered charity and therefore does not receive any funding but is dependant on the kindness of donations to continue its work.
They would like to thank Noreen Sweeney of the local Coastguard, Neil at the Castlebar Animal Hospital, local teacher Ray Hughes and all the local residents for their invaluable assistance in the rescue of Laurence
For further information please contact:
Brendan Price, CEO of the Irish Seal Sanctuary on 01835 4370

Zzippy

Not meaning to stir up a hornet's nest or anything, but is this work really necessary, or beneficial? When chicks fall out of a nest other posters here advise to do nothing and let nature take its course. If a seal pup is abandoned its usually for a good reason.
Grey seals are not endangered. Would the money raised not be better spent on protecting animals that are actually threatened?
Not trolling, just looking for other people's opinions on the subject!

Smokey Bear

Just some more info on what the Irish Seal sanctuary do,

Brendan explains about work of Irish Seal Sanctuary http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=908632629453174433&hl=en

Footage of Laurence being released at Achill what a great day!
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=gRt_1X6Iaoo

Irish Seal Sanctuary web site more info on what they do is available.
http://www.irishsealsanctuary.ie/

Zzippy in case you did not know both grey and harbour seals are protected under the EU Habitats Directive,
It is very hard to turn your back on a seal that is in distress.Once you have looked into there big black eyes its hard to say no I wont help you.
Smokey Bear

ivanthehunter

Smokey Bear wrote: »

Just to let you know,
Laurence, a 6 month old grey seal, will be released back into the wild by the Irish Seal Sanctuary, with the help of local residents and Coastguards, at Keem Strand, Achill Island on the 18th May at 1430.
Laurence was rescued by local residents on the 28th March 2008 and taken by the local Coastguard to Castlebar Animal Hospital. After examination and overnight rest he was then transported by Ray Hughes to the train station, he arrived in Dublin, to be rehabilitated at the Sanctuary.
Following the release there will be a talk/workshop by the Irish Seal Sanctuary on what to do if you come across a seal, what actions to be taken and information that we need in order to evaluate the situation.
The Irish Seal Sanctuary is a registered charity and therefore does not receive any funding but is dependant on the kindness of donations to continue its work.
They would like to thank Noreen Sweeney of the local Coastguard, Neil at the Castlebar Animal Hospital, local teacher Ray Hughes and all the local residents for their invaluable assistance in the rescue of Laurence
For further information please contact:
Brendan Price, CEO of the Irish Seal Sanctuary on 01835 4370

I,m all for seal rescue but i was there the day this seal was rescued and i failed to see how the coastguard were able to leave a woman and her two children stranded in their car which became bogged down in wet grass/mud during the bad weather conditions. BTW the woman in question was the person who called the the coastguard rescue or possible the seal sanctuary in a bid to have this animal seen to.
Its a totally unacceptable that the coastguard ignored her pleas for help(on such a bad night as darkness fell being 5-6miles from the nearest house over some of the most dangerous road in the whole of Ireland) by claiming that they are not in the tow-a-car business. Since when has a seal been more important than a human life.

Shame on you.. They left children stranded, who where cold wet and scared.
I know because i was one of four men (real men) who pulled this car out of the mud and ferried this womens husband back over the 5 mile trip to be reunited with his family.

Is it not in the remit of the coastguard to save all souls in or on the coast. Do they not take some oath where they promise to protect, help and serve the people of Ireland...

Zzippy

Smokey Bear wrote: »

Zzippy in case you did not know both grey and harbour seals are protected under the EU Habitats Directive,

I did know. So are salmon, but I can go out and catch and kill up to 10 a year if I want. Just because an animal is listed in the Habitats Directive doesn't mean its endangered, or that we should interfere with nature and "rescue" abandoned pups.

Smokey Bear wrote: »

It is very hard to turn your back on a seal that is in distress.Once you have looked into there big black eyes its hard to say no I wont help you.

Ah, the old "cute and furry" syndrome BS. I actually work in conservation myself, but I have no time for people who talk about their "big black eyes"... :rolleyes:

Smokey Bear

Ivanthehunter,
Did not know about that ,will pass on info.

Zzippy,
Never said they were endangered.Keep up the good work if you think it is"really necessary, or beneficial "

Just for peoples info

The ROI Grey Seal population is now 5,509 – 7,083 animals of all ages,
miniscule by any standard and to be cherished.

Smokey bear

WayneGriffin

Hi,
I am the West Coast Co-Ordinator for the Irish Seal Sanctuary looking after Galway, Mayo and Clare.
I was the one that released "Willie" back into the sea.
I am interested in some of the comments posted and would like to clarify a few of them....

1. Many of the seals are rescued because they have been abandoned for one reason or another. They can be abandoned due to normal health issues however many can also be as a result of human contact. If a pup is on the beach, it may just be resting whilst the cow is out at sea hunting. If there is a large disturbance on the beach arising from crowds near to the pup then the mother will not return. Once seperated it is unlikely that they will ever meet again. The pup needs it's mothers milk as they only get water from the food that they eat and without water they will die within 4 - 6 days.
2. They can develop health problems due to contamination of the food that they eat ie plastics. There have been some dead seals found with large amounts of plastic in their stomachs.
3. They can be injured through contact with propellers or jet ski's
4. If you come across a seal on the beach then, unless it has an obvious injury, do not approach it. Create a safe zone around it to prevent people and loose dogs from approaching it. Watch out at sea to see if the mother is around. Place a marker near to the animal such as a bucket, any rescue team can then use it as point of reference later. Call a rescue team on 018354370 and pass as much detail on as possible. Monitor the seal and check whether it still there later, or the next day, or the rescue team will attend and monitor.
5. I understand that people feel that an animal should be left to it's natural fate, even if this means it dying. However there is nothing natural about plastics, human disturbance, boat propellers or jet ski's.
6. We do not have any funding to carry out our work. We are all volunteers, giving our time freely to the seals. We rely totally on the kindness of people interested and wanting to help us continue. They donate money, equipment or volunteer to the sanctuary. The money would not be raised unless the individual donating wanted it to go to rehabilitating seals. Therefore the money could not be used elsewhere as there wouldn't be anything to give.
7. They are protected, but yes they are not endangered, but what difference should that make ? Without protecting species in the first place then they may not survive long term. Without protecting them how many would be hunted or culled ?
8. I cannot comment on the posting ref the Coastguard actions on the day. It may be prudent in writing to them and asking the questions direct.

I hope this helps explain some of the points but if you would like further info then please feel free to email me on: waynegriffin@fsmail.net
The subject does have many different elements but in life:
debate dispels myths.
Thank you.
Wayne